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Bob Gibson is the luckiest pitcher I ever saw. He always pitches when the other team doesn't score any runs.
— Tim McCarver
— Tim McCarver
Domeball 2021/22 Registration is Now Open!!!
It’s time to register for Domeball 2021/22! Our winter games begin on Tuesday, November 9th, and Session One will go until Thursday, December 23rd. While dates have not been finalized, Session Two will run from January through February, and Session Three will take place during March and April.
Please read all instructions carefully! Our game day format is changing!
The registration form is linked below and was emailed to all active players. Please send your forms and checks in as soon as possible, so we can start planning our rosters and pay the rent. The form can be filled out on your computer, or you can print and fill it out by hand.
UPDATE! We've developed an online registration form that is ready for primetime earlier than we thought! You can go HERE now to register online. Please immediately mail a check to cover the fees for the session. We need your payments to cover the first installment of our dome rental fee! You can also print and mail the standard PDF form that's already been published. Thanks!
A couple of reminders and highlights:
First: we’re changing our schedule this year to make it possible to maintain our two-division format. Those who normally play in the Northwoods Division (NWD) should select times from the available slots for that division. Conversely, our National Division (ND) players should sign up only for spots designated for that division. Exceptions to this will be allowed, but ONLY with board approval.
Second: If you choose to play Domeball this year, please register only if you have been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 coronavirus. Cases and hospitalizations are back on the rise in Minnesota, at an alarming rate. While 99% of new cases are affecting un-vaccinated people, even those vaccinated are at risk of breakthrough infections. We will do what we feel is needed to protect our players. This policy is closely matched in both of the Roseville and Rochester senior softball organizations.
Finally: We need to pay attention to health and safety. We’re scheduling 70-minute games, with a 15-minute break between games 2 & 3. This is being done to encourage less mingling in the dome between the groups coming and going. Please leave the dome quickly after your games and don’t come more than 15 minutes early if you’re playing the later games that day. We’re also encouraging teams to stay in their team’s dugout/bench area, bring their own chairs, and keep safely socially distant from other players. We are discouraging handshake lines and contact after each game. A simple wave and “good game” greetings will be encouraged.
Our goals are to get our games in, spend time with our friends, and continue our tradition of great times through the coming season. We’ll keep everyone up to date as our season comes together and continue to monitor health and safety issues as we move along.
Please read all instructions carefully! Our game day format is changing!
The registration form is linked below and was emailed to all active players. Please send your forms and checks in as soon as possible, so we can start planning our rosters and pay the rent. The form can be filled out on your computer, or you can print and fill it out by hand.
UPDATE! We've developed an online registration form that is ready for primetime earlier than we thought! You can go HERE now to register online. Please immediately mail a check to cover the fees for the session. We need your payments to cover the first installment of our dome rental fee! You can also print and mail the standard PDF form that's already been published. Thanks!
A couple of reminders and highlights:
First: we’re changing our schedule this year to make it possible to maintain our two-division format. Those who normally play in the Northwoods Division (NWD) should select times from the available slots for that division. Conversely, our National Division (ND) players should sign up only for spots designated for that division. Exceptions to this will be allowed, but ONLY with board approval.
Second: If you choose to play Domeball this year, please register only if you have been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 coronavirus. Cases and hospitalizations are back on the rise in Minnesota, at an alarming rate. While 99% of new cases are affecting un-vaccinated people, even those vaccinated are at risk of breakthrough infections. We will do what we feel is needed to protect our players. This policy is closely matched in both of the Roseville and Rochester senior softball organizations.
Finally: We need to pay attention to health and safety. We’re scheduling 70-minute games, with a 15-minute break between games 2 & 3. This is being done to encourage less mingling in the dome between the groups coming and going. Please leave the dome quickly after your games and don’t come more than 15 minutes early if you’re playing the later games that day. We’re also encouraging teams to stay in their team’s dugout/bench area, bring their own chairs, and keep safely socially distant from other players. We are discouraging handshake lines and contact after each game. A simple wave and “good game” greetings will be encouraged.
Our goals are to get our games in, spend time with our friends, and continue our tradition of great times through the coming season. We’ll keep everyone up to date as our season comes together and continue to monitor health and safety issues as we move along.
Click Here for the Domeball 2021-Session One Registration Form
Click Here if you have NOT submitted a West Metro Liability Waiver Form (Call Ron Wenaas at 612.418.7077 if you're not sure.)
Click Here if you have NOT submitted a West Metro Liability Waiver Form (Call Ron Wenaas at 612.418.7077 if you're not sure.)
We're Still Playing Fall Ball!
C'mon Out ... No Fees!
Just to make it easy to get to the right field each day, we've put Rosters together and a schedule of field assignments ...
HERE ARE THE ROSTERS
We'll make changes to rosters, as players come and go. And we'll merge teams and fields as needed throughout the fall. No scores, No records...basically a slightly more formal version of "Pick-up Ball." Have fun!
If you're new to the league, we do need you to Register and sign our Liability Waiver...
HERE ARE THE ROSTERS
We'll make changes to rosters, as players come and go. And we'll merge teams and fields as needed throughout the fall. No scores, No records...basically a slightly more formal version of "Pick-up Ball." Have fun!
If you're new to the league, we do need you to Register and sign our Liability Waiver...
Field Assignments for Tuesday, Oct 19
NOTABLE NOTES TO NOTE
FALL BALL will go until the end of October or when Weather conditions become "wintery."
NO ORGANIZED LUNCH SCHEDULE FOR FALL BALL...
SCHOOL STARTED SEPTEMBER 8TH. PARKING RESTRICTIONS FOR FIELD 5 ARE NOW IN EFFECT.
CHECK THE PARKING MAP TO SEE WHERE YOU CAN PARK!
(no, you can't park across the street by the soccer fields.)
FALL BALL will go until the end of October or when Weather conditions become "wintery."
NO ORGANIZED LUNCH SCHEDULE FOR FALL BALL...
SCHOOL STARTED SEPTEMBER 8TH. PARKING RESTRICTIONS FOR FIELD 5 ARE NOW IN EFFECT.
CHECK THE PARKING MAP TO SEE WHERE YOU CAN PARK!
(no, you can't park across the street by the soccer fields.)
Remember to check your email, Facebook and Weather Alert Apps before heading to the park. We will only make announcements if there may be weather issues.
A few important notes and reminders:
The park is located at 16691 Valley View Road in Eden Prairie. A map to the ballpark is available HERE !
We also need you to sign our 2021 West Metro Waiver of Liability. <<-- That's a link. The waiver needs to be signed each year. Please sign and return this form with your registration. As an alternative, you can reply to Ron Wenaas via email and request an electronic signature waiver release. You’ll receive an email, open the document, sign and submit it electronically.
You can still sign up! Here's the Summer/Fall Registration Form!
This year’s fee of $50 pays for the entire summer and fall festivities as well as New Hats for those who did not get one last year, or for new players!
Mail your form, waiver and a check written to WMSS or West Metro Senior Softball ... send it to Ron Wenaas, 5617 Sherwood Ave., Edina, MN 55424.
League Caps and Equipment
Part of West Metro’s charm is our league hats, with your chosen name or nickname boldly letting everyone know a name you’d actually like to be called! Please indicate that you need a hat by entering the name you’d like on yours on the form. They’ll be available a of couple weeks after the beginning of the summer season. The ordering period for hats from our vendor has passed, so new players will not receive hats until we go back outdoors in May, 2022.
Because of issues with sanitation, we will not be able to provide shared batting helmets. The 8 helmets owned by the league are available on-loan for the season on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests for the helmets can be noted on the registration forms, or by contacting Ron Wenaas at 612.418.7077 or via email. If all the helmets are spoken for, we encourage you to purchase your own. (Not required, but strongly recommended) We encourage all players to provide their own bats, although we will have our league bats at the park, along with sanitizing cleaner.
The Weather Stone - (Look Down at the Bottom of this Page)
To get weather alerts to you quickly and conveniently, the Legendary Weather Stone will be back in use on the league website and the West Metro Facebook page. Whenever the fields may be unplayable or the weather unbearable, we’ll try to have alerts posted and sent via email, Facebook, Text and the WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger alert systems by 7:45 a.m. If it’s an “Iffy” day, the weather stone will appear at the top of the league homepage, everyone in the league will receive an email alert and, if you sign up to receive them, “WhatsApp” or “Facebook Messenger” alerts. To get those alerts, just check the “WhatsApp”, “Text” or “Facebook Messenger” box on the registration form – we’ll add you to the lists. We’ll completely re-build those lists this year, so be sure to sign up, even if you’ve been on past lists!
Note: If you choose to receive WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger alerts, you’ll need the correct app on your mobile phone.
That’s all for now! Let’s get going! Send in your registration forms and your fee asap, so we can get caps ordered as needed, and everything set up for opening day.
PLEASE review the game-day notes below! They're important!
A few important notes and reminders:
- We will have league bats.
- A limited number of batting helmets are available on a Full-Summer loan basis. There will be NO shared helmets. Check at the Pavilion to see if there are any in your size available. Players are encouraged to bring their own helmets and use them.
- We will have registration forms and liability waivers at the park for any new players. If you have friends that would like to join the league, please contact one of the board members first, so we can be prepared to bring new players into the league.
The park is located at 16691 Valley View Road in Eden Prairie. A map to the ballpark is available HERE !
We also need you to sign our 2021 West Metro Waiver of Liability. <<-- That's a link. The waiver needs to be signed each year. Please sign and return this form with your registration. As an alternative, you can reply to Ron Wenaas via email and request an electronic signature waiver release. You’ll receive an email, open the document, sign and submit it electronically.
You can still sign up! Here's the Summer/Fall Registration Form!
This year’s fee of $50 pays for the entire summer and fall festivities as well as New Hats for those who did not get one last year, or for new players!
Mail your form, waiver and a check written to WMSS or West Metro Senior Softball ... send it to Ron Wenaas, 5617 Sherwood Ave., Edina, MN 55424.
League Caps and Equipment
Part of West Metro’s charm is our league hats, with your chosen name or nickname boldly letting everyone know a name you’d actually like to be called! Please indicate that you need a hat by entering the name you’d like on yours on the form. They’ll be available a of couple weeks after the beginning of the summer season. The ordering period for hats from our vendor has passed, so new players will not receive hats until we go back outdoors in May, 2022.
Because of issues with sanitation, we will not be able to provide shared batting helmets. The 8 helmets owned by the league are available on-loan for the season on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests for the helmets can be noted on the registration forms, or by contacting Ron Wenaas at 612.418.7077 or via email. If all the helmets are spoken for, we encourage you to purchase your own. (Not required, but strongly recommended) We encourage all players to provide their own bats, although we will have our league bats at the park, along with sanitizing cleaner.
The Weather Stone - (Look Down at the Bottom of this Page)
To get weather alerts to you quickly and conveniently, the Legendary Weather Stone will be back in use on the league website and the West Metro Facebook page. Whenever the fields may be unplayable or the weather unbearable, we’ll try to have alerts posted and sent via email, Facebook, Text and the WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger alert systems by 7:45 a.m. If it’s an “Iffy” day, the weather stone will appear at the top of the league homepage, everyone in the league will receive an email alert and, if you sign up to receive them, “WhatsApp” or “Facebook Messenger” alerts. To get those alerts, just check the “WhatsApp”, “Text” or “Facebook Messenger” box on the registration form – we’ll add you to the lists. We’ll completely re-build those lists this year, so be sure to sign up, even if you’ve been on past lists!
Note: If you choose to receive WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger alerts, you’ll need the correct app on your mobile phone.
That’s all for now! Let’s get going! Send in your registration forms and your fee asap, so we can get caps ordered as needed, and everything set up for opening day.
PLEASE review the game-day notes below! They're important!
West Metro's Brush with TV Fame
On March 16, 2021, Board Member Gary Bingner was contacted by a television production company who had found his videos for West Metro Senior Softball online and was interested in using some of the footage for a commercial for a "major car company" (for confidentiality reasons, they couldn't say who. Ron Wenaas quickly reached out to our players to see how they felt about it and there was enthusiastic approval for the idea--especially knowing the league could be compensated for any footage used.
Unfortunately, none of our clips made the final cut, but the production company was grateful for our interest and said they would reach out in the future if any similar opportunities came up. After viewing the Chevy version (with voiceover by James Earl Jones), Gary felt like the car company was missing the mark by not including our footage, so he re-edited the video with a heapin' helping of West Metro footage. He shared it with the production company who, quite candidly, said they liked OUR version better. Have a look yourself and be the judge. Which version do YOU prefer? Which one would make you want to buy a new Chevy?
Unfortunately, none of our clips made the final cut, but the production company was grateful for our interest and said they would reach out in the future if any similar opportunities came up. After viewing the Chevy version (with voiceover by James Earl Jones), Gary felt like the car company was missing the mark by not including our footage, so he re-edited the video with a heapin' helping of West Metro footage. He shared it with the production company who, quite candidly, said they liked OUR version better. Have a look yourself and be the judge. Which version do YOU prefer? Which one would make you want to buy a new Chevy?
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The Approved for TV version
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The West Metro "Extra Spicy" Version
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A new photo/essay series, led by Aaron Isaacs
"Finding a broken bat and putting it together with a screw. Using a baseball with half the cover missing. Slamming a ball against the steps, etc, etc, etc. It sure was great being a youngster. No TV sets, just being at the park everyday was the normal.
My early teens brought me my first baseball championship with Franklin Creamery (picture). Maturing and playing baseball during my high school years, I turned to softball following graduation. A neighbor of mine became a terrific fastpitch pitcher, and he would practice every day. I was in awe of him.
In the forties and fifties, every bar, church & workplace sponsored teams. I started at age seventeen and have now played for (Yes) seventy straight years. Even during my time in the Armed Services, I played and pitched for the 82nd Airborne in North Carolina. I was shipped-out to Korea following the war, where I pitched for the eighth Army until my discharge.
Back home, I played fast pitch for thirty five years until the leagues disbanded in Minneapolis with the growth of slow pitch. I was fortunate to be one of Edina Senior Softball’s first players starting at age fifty five. From 1989 to the present, I have never missed a year of playing. Counting my fast pitch days, I have played from 1953 until today without missing a year. Unfortunately, The Guiness Book of World Records told me they could not put me in their record books because there were too many players worldwide playing softball to enable them to verify this record of participation.
I am proud to have been competitive in West Metro over so many years. So many travels, world and other tournament championships, rings, and now most of all, enjoying the camaraderie with all of you."
--John Carlson, West Metro Senior Softball
My early teens brought me my first baseball championship with Franklin Creamery (picture). Maturing and playing baseball during my high school years, I turned to softball following graduation. A neighbor of mine became a terrific fastpitch pitcher, and he would practice every day. I was in awe of him.
In the forties and fifties, every bar, church & workplace sponsored teams. I started at age seventeen and have now played for (Yes) seventy straight years. Even during my time in the Armed Services, I played and pitched for the 82nd Airborne in North Carolina. I was shipped-out to Korea following the war, where I pitched for the eighth Army until my discharge.
Back home, I played fast pitch for thirty five years until the leagues disbanded in Minneapolis with the growth of slow pitch. I was fortunate to be one of Edina Senior Softball’s first players starting at age fifty five. From 1989 to the present, I have never missed a year of playing. Counting my fast pitch days, I have played from 1953 until today without missing a year. Unfortunately, The Guiness Book of World Records told me they could not put me in their record books because there were too many players worldwide playing softball to enable them to verify this record of participation.
I am proud to have been competitive in West Metro over so many years. So many travels, world and other tournament championships, rings, and now most of all, enjoying the camaraderie with all of you."
--John Carlson, West Metro Senior Softball
“The photo is from my second year of Little League, but I really learned to play in neighborhood sandlot games and lots of 500 in the middle of the street. I was crazy for baseball from about age 7. Collected and traded baseball cards and memorized every player's stats. It won't surprise anyone in the league to learn that 1st base was always my position.
We lived in Beloit, Wisconsin from 1956 to 1958 and the Braves were my team, winning the World Series in 1957. Because I shared a name with Henry Aaron he became my favorite player. I love senior softball. It has completely changed how I view aging, because we can do a lot more than I ever thought possible. I experience things on the field that I can't get anywhere else. It's mysterious and wonderful how muscle memory takes over and you're able to run down a fly ball or throw accurately (well, not always, but often enough to feel pretty good about it). The plus is the friendships I've made in this league. What a rich experience.” -Aaron Issacs 
"My first was a 6 team little league at Lake Hiawatha of 7-8 year olds. Teams got different colored t-shirts and we thought that was pretty cool! Our 5th grade coach got a sponsor and full flannel uniforms! Really HOT! Then Jr. American Legion, Legion, and High School ball. All fun and many learnings! But most important were the “games” played at a small diamond on the corner of Crosby Place and 34th Avenue So. in Minneapolis. As people showed it’d be “Over the fence”, or “500” -points for fielding grounders and fly balls. When a 5th showed it went to “pitcher’s hand” with an infielder, a outfielder, pitcher and the hitter could only hit to one field! People were out by getting the ball to the pitcher or by being tagged running bases. When safe, a “ghost runner” and bat again! Keeping track of scores in the dirt and some people were so good (or our fielding so bad!) we had to limit them to 7 runs a time even before they had their three outs! Usually we had 6-9 per side for a real game with rules modified to “work”! (Sometimes 3 teams of 4 players so there were 8 in the field and ya got to bat more.) We played some kind of baseball from 3-9 hours a day all summer and mourned when it rained. Softball really started when I was 14 and my brother, who was always running some kind of team or another, was always short a player, so would enlist me to “fill-in” when needed-which turned out to be most every game! Never missed a season until last year! Broken legs, knee and wrist surgeries never cost a whole season! The people, the contact, the joy of playing are all things I look forward to reestablishing in West Metro senior ball—almost like being a kid again where it is “ok” to get dirty, dive around, and face the challenge of each separate pitch or batted ball, succeed or fail, and still grin at the effort! The joy of play! The “puppiness” that even we “old men” still carry!"
-Dennis Debe 
"I started playing baseball in the 50s, and started playing softball in the 70s and have played ever since.
I have always said that if I ever can pass a softball field without getting butterflies I would quit playing. That hasn't happened yet." -Ric Johnson Want to be part of this fun new series? Here's what Aaron has to say about his inspiration: "How old were you when you started playing some form of baseball? Are there pictures of you as a ball playing kid in the family album? If so, please join us in a little project we're calling "Ballplayer for Life". Take a photo of how you look as a ballplayer today, perhaps mimicking a photo of you as a kid. Send them to Board Member, Gary Bingner. He'll format it like my story above and post the results on the West Metro website. We'd all like to see how your passion for the game has burned brightly over all these years.
So start digging through those old photos!" |
My love of baseball began with my grandmother. One of her pastimes was listening to radio broadcasts of Milwaukee Braves games. She even kept a scorebook as she listened! She also subscribed to Street and Smith’s Baseball magazine, and when I was at her house, I spent a lot of time looking at all the photos, reading about the ballplayers, and dreaming of being like them some day.
She took me to my first major league game when I was about 8. Warren Spahn started game 1 vs the Cardinals. But what I remember most was being in the parking lot in the bottom of the 8th inning of game 2 of the double header (because Grandpa wanted to beat the traffic!) and hearing a loud roar from the crowd. Yup- I had missed seeing Henry Aaron, my idol, hit one of his 755 home runs. Never quite forgave Grandpa for that! I had a suitcase full of baseball cards, many of them much older than I was. Unfortunately, my mom threw them out when I was at college, not knowing what they may be worth some day. (I try not to think about it!) While I did play little league, I have no pictures. My parents had to operate the farm and didn’t have time to watch games in the summer. I generally rode my bike the 6 miles to the fields in town. So, the first photo is a newspaper clipping from my junior year in high school. I hit 5th and played 1st base on a good team that came within 1 inning of going to the state tournament in the large school division. I just moved to The Cities in 2019 and discovered WMSS in July of 2020. It had been over 20 years since I had played, and it felt great to get back on the field. What a great organization! I look forward to the post-game socializing that apparently was routine before COVID, and I hope to get to know more of you better. Being new to the area, I need to make new friends, and COVID has slowed that process. 
"As a kid we played pickup baseball in a vacant field at the intersection of Hwy 110 and County Rd 81. At that time it was a stop light intersection. The field was taken over by the current overpass intersection. We would all show up on Mondays with our push lawn mowers and mow the infield. If you hit the ball into Hwy 100 it was an automatic home run. Playing the game brings back the joy of being a kid and the friendships and comaraderie that will last forever."
- Rick Olson 
"I began playing in a softball league when I was 12 and haven't missed a year since, now I'm 69.
While everyone has a technical, musical, educational, etc. skills, you put those aside and show this unique skill set. To hit, catch and throw. As seniors, you try to stay healthy to get back out on that field and enjoy the team comaraderie." -Maury Fjestad 
Growing up in Southern California my 8 year old mind fully expected to play for the LA Dodgers when I grew up. However, my 3 seasons of Little League turned out to be the last organized ball I would play for the next 45 years. In Spring of 2008 I visited my sister in the Seattle area. She and her husband had signed up to play Senior Softball in a CoEd league and their first game was on the first morning of my visit. I went along with them expecting to just be a spectator. The manager saw me and asked when I would turn 55 and if I had played ball. When I replied "June” and “third base in Little League..." he said I could join the team immediately for $45 and a signature! Amazingly I played a crazy good game at third base that day, leaping and snatching line drives high over my head, and picking hot grounders clean and firing strikes to first. Also I batted 2 for 4 with a double (which admittedly is not too hard to to do against senior coeds.) When I got back home I did a web search for senior softball in the Minneapolis area, but I got no hits. I’m guessing the WMSS website had not been established yet. More than a year later a conversation at my mail box with my neighbor John Hill lead to a connection with West Metro Senior Softball. I’ve been a player and a fan ever since. -Jay Lee
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Game Day Reminders
The Weather Stone - TEXT ALERTS HAVE RETURNED!
To get weather alerts to you quickly and conveniently, the weather stone will be back in use on the league website and the West Metro Facebook page. We have never called games during the Domeball season, but as a precaution, whenever the fields may be unplayable or the weather unbearable, we’ll try to have alerts posted and sent via email, Text Message, Facebook and the WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger alert systems by 7:45 a.m. If it’s an “Iffy” day, everyone in the league will receive an email alert and the weather stone will appear at the top of the league homepage. We'll also send messages to everyone that has signed up to receive them via Text, “WhatsApp” or “Facebook Messenger” alerts. To get those alerts, just Click HERE.
Note: If you choose to receive WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger alerts, you’ll need the correct app on your mobile phone. Instructions are on the sign-up page.
When we head outdoors, we move back to Eden Prairie's Round Lake Ballparks.
Maps and directions are available on the website here: http://www.mnseniorsoftball.com/field-locations.html
Set-up & BP will begin at 9 a.m. - Early in the season, please plan to arrive as close to 9 as possible to help setup and get checked in as needed.
- Everyone at the park needs to have signed a liability waiver (including spectators- adults will sign waivers for any children attending)
- If you'd like to sign your (or a visitor's) waiver electronically, send your email address (or your guests) to Ron Wenaas. An email will be sent to that address, a legally valid signature will be made and the document returned to the league. Done!
- We will also have Liability Waivers and Registration forms at the park.
- Especially the first few days, while we see how this all works out, we're discouraging spectators at the park! Thanks for keeping the complications underwhelming.
- Batting Practice starts at about 9 a.m.
- Game One will start at 10:00 a.m.
- There will be NO post-game gatherings, other than those informally happening at player's discretion. NO LUNCH PICNIC! NO LEAGUE SUPPLIED BEVERAGES!
Other Game-Day Notes:
Please bring the following to the ballpark every day.
The Weather Stone - TEXT ALERTS HAVE RETURNED!
To get weather alerts to you quickly and conveniently, the weather stone will be back in use on the league website and the West Metro Facebook page. We have never called games during the Domeball season, but as a precaution, whenever the fields may be unplayable or the weather unbearable, we’ll try to have alerts posted and sent via email, Text Message, Facebook and the WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger alert systems by 7:45 a.m. If it’s an “Iffy” day, everyone in the league will receive an email alert and the weather stone will appear at the top of the league homepage. We'll also send messages to everyone that has signed up to receive them via Text, “WhatsApp” or “Facebook Messenger” alerts. To get those alerts, just Click HERE.
Note: If you choose to receive WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger alerts, you’ll need the correct app on your mobile phone. Instructions are on the sign-up page.
When we head outdoors, we move back to Eden Prairie's Round Lake Ballparks.
Maps and directions are available on the website here: http://www.mnseniorsoftball.com/field-locations.html
Set-up & BP will begin at 9 a.m. - Early in the season, please plan to arrive as close to 9 as possible to help setup and get checked in as needed.
- Everyone at the park needs to have signed a liability waiver (including spectators- adults will sign waivers for any children attending)
- If you'd like to sign your (or a visitor's) waiver electronically, send your email address (or your guests) to Ron Wenaas. An email will be sent to that address, a legally valid signature will be made and the document returned to the league. Done!
- We will also have Liability Waivers and Registration forms at the park.
- Especially the first few days, while we see how this all works out, we're discouraging spectators at the park! Thanks for keeping the complications underwhelming.
- Batting Practice starts at about 9 a.m.
- Game One will start at 10:00 a.m.
- There will be NO post-game gatherings, other than those informally happening at player's discretion. NO LUNCH PICNIC! NO LEAGUE SUPPLIED BEVERAGES!
Other Game-Day Notes:
Please bring the following to the ballpark every day.
- A facemask or face gaiter
- You own supply of water. We will have a water jug at Field #5.
- Hand Sanitizer
- A folding chair – LABELED with your name. So we can get them back to you, when you forget.
- Once again, here are the entry procedure for arrival at the park.
- Please enter the park via the Pavilion area.
- If you haven’t signed a Liability Waiver, please ask for one at the pavilion. We'll have a supply on-hand and registration forms if you want to bring a new player!
- If you’re a new player, be sure to say hi to Doc Hartshorn, John Hovde, Ron Wenaas, Gary Bingner or Bruce Torgerson. We'll get you introduced around, go over our rules and decide which of our two divisions will be the best place for you.
- If you, or anyone you're regularly in contact with, have any flu-like symptoms or a COVID-19 diagnosis in the past two weeks, please be considerate of everyone and don’t come to the ballpark.
- If you get ill between game days, please let any of the board members know as soon as possible.
A Gift from Mike
Mike Marrinan attended a softball training session and wants to share what he learned! Here's a note, followed by a YouTube link that could help us all become better hitters! Thanks, Mike!
"I was invited to a Senior Softball Hitting Clinic hosted by Alan Tanner in Florida.
Alan is an elite Major plus softball player and a great ambassador of our game.
He posted this Video back in December of 2018. It's about an hour long.
I learned a lot and it is a lot to absorb. My hope is that anyone that watches this video can pick up something that makes them a better player."
- Mike Marrinan
Click here or on the Photo to see the video!
"I was invited to a Senior Softball Hitting Clinic hosted by Alan Tanner in Florida.
Alan is an elite Major plus softball player and a great ambassador of our game.
He posted this Video back in December of 2018. It's about an hour long.
I learned a lot and it is a lot to absorb. My hope is that anyone that watches this video can pick up something that makes them a better player."
- Mike Marrinan
Click here or on the Photo to see the video!
Looking for bats or other softball gear?
We have several sources in the league!
Support your local entrepreneurs.
Check them out here!
We have several sources in the league!
Support your local entrepreneurs.
Check them out here!
Welcome!
Are you over 50 and looking to play some ball? Check out this video.
Got info you'd like to share with the league? Why not send a note to the webmaster?
Important Links
Northwoods Division Summer Rules are Here...
National Division Summer Rules are Here...
Manager's Resources & Notes are Here
Did You Just Find Us? Or Forget to Sign-up? You Can Register and Join the League Anytime
General Summer Registration Information is available here
Want to know how we Operate? Go here!
Our Liability Waiver is here. (required before participating...also available at the park.)
Northwoods Division Summer Rules are Here...
National Division Summer Rules are Here...
Manager's Resources & Notes are Here
Did You Just Find Us? Or Forget to Sign-up? You Can Register and Join the League Anytime
General Summer Registration Information is available here
Want to know how we Operate? Go here!
Our Liability Waiver is here. (required before participating...also available at the park.)
A couple of classics from the West Metro archives.
It's a new year, but we've got no new material. So we reached into the video vault to relive a couple of gems from years gone by. Enjoy!
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Domeball Moments 2014-2015. This was our first compilation video from the Holy Angels Star Dome, filmed between Dec. 2014 and March 2015. Our poster boy is our very own Bob Lundegaard, former Star Tribune movie critic and close personal friend of movie titans, the Coen Brothers.
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Recorded Dec 22, 2016, "West Metro Confidential" features many of our most entertaining players talking about some of their favorite moments from senior softball. The interviews were conducted at the VFW in Richfield where we would celebrate the holidays and the end of the year.
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Double your pleasure with two slow motion videos! |
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Recorded at the Stardome on Jan. 17, 2019. Shot and edited by Gary Bingner of Quasimodo Advertising and Hold Tight Video.
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Shot Dec. 20, 2018 at the Stardome.
High-speed softball action, slowed down for your viewing pleasure. |
A music video for all you winners out there. |
Talkin' Senior Softball, Dec. 2017. |
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Get the New Year off to a winning start with this music video shot at the Holy Angels Dome in Richfield. (Music: Game Winner by Vulfpeck)
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At our end-of-year VFW lunch, we chatted with a few enthusiastic players about what they love about West Metro Senior Softball. This video also includes some footage of the recently departed Gary Reagen.
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ONLY THEN WILL YOU KNOW IF WE'RE PLAYING BALL!